Machine



(No Model.)

AS71678 j! J. MQORODDEN.

PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented -Aug.'1, 1882.

N. PETERS Phemlitho n her. Washington. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 2.

J. MQGRODDEN. PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE No. 261,941. PatentedfAugl, 1882;

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I I I a v I I m r e- B H N. PETERS. Phokv-Lilhognphur. Washinglun, n. a

..,. T PATENT @FFlCE JAMES .MCORODDEN,

on New YORK, N. Y.

SEECIFICATiON forming art of Letters Application filed J une 15,1882. (No model.)

a To all whom-it may concern Be it known thatL'JAMES MOGRODDEN, of

the city, county, and State of New York, have in ven ted certain new anduseful Improvem cuts in Package-Filling Machines,the same being fully and clearly set forthinthe following specification, reference being hadtothe aceomfound that the distributing-rack, when constructedwith cross-bars of uniform-height,f

would agitate thecentral portion of theinass1 ofpowder in the distributing-box the most and dash itto either end, which caused those measuring pockets or tubes which were nearest the ends of the box to fill more quickly than thoseat the center, and by the continued; 210- tion of this rack, which vibrated till allof the pockets were filled, also causing the contents of the former to become more compressed, and

hence to weigh more than those of the latter. A uniform distribution of the filling material; to all of thepockets is, however, effected byj means which include the first feature ofmy in-l invention; and itconsists ofthe useof adistributing-rack composed of cross-bars of different; heights, which elfectually prevent any tench ency of the material upon the rack to accumula'te at either end thereof, and insure an equal disposition of it over the rack.

The second featureof my invention is contained in a device for regulating the capacity of the measuringpockets; and it consists in an upright screw-shaft operated by a handwheel, and a spider traveling uponsuch shat'ti and supporting the plate or frame that carries 1 the movable sections of the telescopic measur in g-tubes. p It is considered desirable to cut elf the supply of the material fed into the machine at such times as the shaker or distributing-rack is in operation, to both relieve the shaker of undue weight and obviate any clogging or tamping of the filling-powder; and the third Patent No. 261,941, dated August 1, 1882.

feature of my invention is embraced in mechanism designed toaccomplish this end, which mechanism consists in a damper or gate located in the hopperor feed pipe near its mouth and connected with the bed that carries the packages to be filled by a crank-arm in such manner that when this bed is elevated to bring the packages into a position surrounding and elosingthe bottoms of the measuring-tubes said damper shall be closed.

It has also been found that as the filled packages are withdrawn from the tubes which measure their contents a partial vacuum is formed in these measures and causes the rewhich gradually loosens and falls by dribbling quantities for quite an interval afterward; and the fourth feature of my invention has for its object theprovision of means to facilitate the emptying of these measures, and is represented by a series ofvalves or plugs so arranged aud operated as to uncover vents in the walls of the measuring-tubes and admit air within such tubes as they discharge their contents, thus allowing the contents to fall quickly as a single mass into the receptacles below.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view on the plane w m, Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the plane y 3 Fig. 3, looking upward. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 is a top or plan View, of my itnproved machine for filling packages.

Referring to these views in detail, the letter A represents the frame of the machine, to which is attached the bed-plateB, supporting through the medium of the rods 1) b the distributingbox (J. Through the bottom 0 of this box are apertures, in which are inserted the upper sections, D, of the telescopic measuring-tubes D D, over the mouths of which slide the crossbars E" of the shaker or distributing-rack E. This rack is vibrated from the hand-crank F, which has a gear-connection with the shaft Gr, bearin g at one end the crank-pin disk 9, to which connected.

Suspended from the plate or frame H, and fitting upon the upper sections of the telescopic which, through the medium of this plate suptention of more or less of the fillingsubstance,

measuring-tubes, are the lower sections, 1),

and to one end of the rack E thepitrnan e is i 5 diminished.

K is a movable bed, upon which rests the tray L, constructed to contain and properlysupport the packages lwhich are to be filled, and this tray is held in a position directly under the measuring-tubes by side strips, 7a, or other suitable guides or stops.

To each of the side strips, 70, is pivoted the upper end of the connecting-bars 2', the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to the 5 inner ends of the hand-levers M, which have a fulcrum-bearing, m, on the frame A.

N is a hopper or the spout of a feed-pipe, extending down to just above the cross-bars of the distributing-rack. It has a damper or gate, 0,

a to shut off and cross-bars n n to-break up the materialthatitdischargesinto thedistributingbox 0. This damper is borne upon a shaft, 0, carrying two crank-arms, O, that are pivoted to the rods 0 fastened to the center of the side strips, 70, of the bed K.

Upon the under side ofthe base 0 of the distributing-box O is the frame P, supported by and having movement in ways P To the cross-bars P of this frame are attached plugs p, of some yielding material like rubber,which are directly in front of vent-holes through the walls of the measuring-tubes D. Springs Q tend to keep the frame 1?, and hence these plugs, back and leave the vent-holes open,ex cept at such times as power applied to the elbow-lever It shall draw the frameforward and close them. Such power is applied to the elbow-lever by the operation of the hand-levers M through the intermediate rod, m, lever m rod 1, elbow-lever r, and rod 7'.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The movable bed Kis raised by hearing down upon the levers M till the bottoms of the empty packages 6 have come in contact with and closed the bottoms of the measuring-tubes D previous to their being filled, and during which this position of the parts is maintained by any suitable catch engaging with the bed-plate or hand-levers. The raising of the movable bed K has also turned the damper or gate in the hopper or supply-pipe to preventany feed therefrom into the distributing-box during the filling of the measuring-tubes, the damper being located at such a height above the rack that the space in the pipe or hopper below it shall contain a quantity of powder a little in excess of what is needed for one charging ofthe measuring-tubes. ThecrankFis nowturned,whioh, by causing the rack to vibrate, equally distributes the powder in the distributing-box to the various pockets or measuring-tubes till they are filled, and is stopped at such a point in its revolution as will bring the cross-bars ofthe shaker directly over the apertures through the bottom of the distributing-box which lead into the measuring-tubes. The bed carrying the tray and contained packages is now lowered, and the downward movement of the inner ends of the hand-levers M effects the opening of the vents in the walls of the n1e'asuring-tubes,which tubes, as the packages are drawn off them, freely discharge their contents into the packages. The return movement of the movable bed has also tipped the damper in the hopper and allowed the space below it to again fill. As each tray of filled packages passes from the machine other trays containing empty packages are supplied, so that the operation of the machine is practically continuous, and the whole action of the machine may be rendered automatic, if desired, by simple changes apparent to one skilled in their use.

What is claimed as new is 1. Ina package-filling machine, the combination of a distributing-box provided with discharging-apertures, and a rack composed of cross-bars of different heights, arranged to vibrate over and at suitable times to close such apertures, substantially as set forth.

2. In a package-filling machine, the combination of a distributing-box, a series of meas-, tiring-tubes composed of telescopic sections, which are attached respectively to said distributing-box and to an adjustable plate or frame, and a screw-shaft for supporting and adjusting said plate, whereby the capacity of said measuring-tubes is regulated, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the measuring-tubes of a package-filling machine, vent-holes arranged in the upper end of such tubes to facilitate the discharge of the contents thereof.

4. In combination with the measuring-tubes of a packagefilling machine, plugs or valves arranged to open vent-holes in the walls of such tubes at the time when their contents are being discharged, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a package-filling machine, ofadistributing-box containing a v-ibrating rack, and a supply-pipe or hopperprovided with a cut-off device arranged to close the mouth of such hopper previous to such rack being put in motion, substantially as above set forth and described.

JAMES MOORODDEN.

Witnesses:

W. F. HAPGOOD, R. F. GAYLORD.

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